Changes

Hindgut fermenters evolved to eat a herbivorous diet. Such a diet includes large quantities of insoluble plant carbohydrates, such as cellulose. Mammals cannot digest these insoluble carbohydrates as they lack the essential enzymes, such as cellulase. However it is important that they do digest these carbohydrates as there is insufficient quantity of soluble carbohydrates in plant material. Some microbes do have the enzymes to digest these insoluble carbohydrates and so hindgut fermenters hold a symbiotic relationship with these microbes. Hindgut fermenters have anatomical adaptations to allow for an expanded microbial population. The products of fermentation are volatile fatty acids (VFAs).

Hindgut fermenters evolved to eat a herbivorous diet. Such a diet includes large quantities of insoluble plant carbohydrates, such as cellulose. Mammals cannot digest these insoluble carbohydrates as they lack the essential enzymes, such as cellulase. However it is important that they do digest these carbohydrates as there is insufficient quantity of soluble carbohydrates in plant material. Some microbes do have the enzymes to digest these insoluble carbohydrates and so hindgut fermenters hold a symbiotic relationship with these microbes. Hindgut fermenters have anatomical adaptations to allow for an expanded microbial population. The products of fermentation are volatile fatty acids (VFAs).

It is important to supply a source of fibre in their diet as it stimulates peristalsis in the gut and prevents a build up of gas.

It is important to supply a source of fibre in their diet as it stimulates peristalsis in the gut and prevents a build up of gas.

===Cellulose Structure===

===Cellulose Structure===

*Microbes in the foregut can convert non-proteinaceous sources of nitrogen, like ammonia and urea to all of the amino acids. Microbial protein is available to the ruminant when the microbes die and pass down into the abomasum and small intestine. Therfore ruminants can survive on a poor quality source of of nitrogen.

*Microbes in the foregut can convert non-proteinaceous sources of nitrogen, like ammonia and urea to all of the amino acids. Microbial protein is available to the ruminant when the microbes die and pass down into the abomasum and small intestine. Therfore ruminants can survive on a poor quality source of of nitrogen.

**Microbial protein is not available to hindgut fermenters because when the microbes in the large intestine die, they get excreted as there is no futher opportunity for their digestion.  

**Microbial protein is not available to hindgut fermenters because when the microbes in the large intestine die, they get excreted as there is no futher opportunity for their digestion.  

*Microbes in the foregut synthesise vitamins and all nutritionally essential amino acids, which is also available to the animal further on in the digestive tract.

*Microbes in the foregut synthesise vitamins and all nutritionally essential amino acids, which are also available to the animal further on in the digestive tract.

**Again, these are not available to the hindgut fermenter.

**Again, these are not available to the hindgut fermenter.

*Microbes in the foregut can detoxify some poisonous compounds.

*Microbes in the foregut can detoxify some poisonous compounds.

**Poisonous comounds can be digested and absorbed before they reach the microbes in the hindgut.

**Poisonous comounds can be digested and absorbed before they reach the microbes in the hindgut.